Thursday, September 21, 2023

Dan Gurney pushing AJ Foyt to win the Grand Prix of Volkswagens during Nassau Speed Week, 1964.




The rumor surrounding that race was that the two conspired to get the win. 

AJ's car was legal, Dan's was not. Dan would push AJ so they could finish 1 & 2. 

If the inspectors missed the illegalities in Dan's car he would take the win. As it turned out, pushing AJ was an insurance policy...

Gurney catapulted into the lead from the start but faded back into the pack to make it sporting, particularly for AJ, whose car was struggling and unable to take advantage of the draft Dan was providing.

So Gurney dropped behind Foyt and pushed him through the pack and into the lead. Before they reached the finish line Gurney swooped around to grab the victory. 

A strictly-by-the-book tech inspection disqualified Dan, giving AJ the win.



This sort of fun and easy going approach to racing reminds me of the Corvair in 1962 https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-scuderia-caribe-corvair-in-1962-has.html 

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